Russia renews invite to Zelensky for Moscow talks as US pushes Ukraine peace deal

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow has yet to receive a response from Kyiv, adding that the invitation remains open.

The statement came as Russia and Ukraine carried out another exchange of war dead, underscoring the continued intensity of the conflict despite ongoing diplomatic activity.

The comments also followed reports that Moscow and Kyiv may have agreed to halt strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure—claims the Kremlin declined to confirm.

Fresh momentum was injected into the peace process after Washington-mediated talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations were held in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

A further round of talks is scheduled for Sunday, even as fierce fighting continues on the ground and Ukraine struggles with widespread power outages caused by recent missile attacks.

An unnamed US official told Axios that Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin were “very close” to agreeing on a face-to-face meeting following the Abu Dhabi discussions.

US President Donald Trump, who has made ending the war a foreign policy priority, said earlier this week that “very good things” were happening in the talks.

Despite the diplomatic push, major differences remain. The most contentious issue is territory, particularly control of parts of eastern Ukraine.

Russia has demanded that Ukrainian forces withdraw from areas of the Donetsk region still under Kyiv’s control, while Ukraine has rejected any deal that would hand over land not captured by Russian troops.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged on Wednesday that territorial questions remain the most difficult hurdle to overcome.

The two sides also disagree over the deployment of international peacekeepers, future security guarantees for Ukraine, and the fate of the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Zelensky previously rejected a similar invitation to Moscow last year, saying he could not visit the capital of a country that was launching daily missile attacks on Ukraine. He had instead suggested that Putin come to Kyiv.

Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said any meeting between the two leaders would need to be carefully prepared and focused on concrete outcomes. He added that Zelensky’s security would be guaranteed if he chose to travel to Moscow.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has expressed scepticism about proposed US security guarantees for Ukraine, arguing they would not ensure lasting peace if they were aimed at preserving Ukraine’s current political leadership.

Meanwhile, hardline voices within Russia continue to oppose negotiations. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Thursday that he was against peace talks, insisting that the war should be pursued until its conclusion.

“I believe the war must be taken to its conclusion,” Kadyrov told reporters at the Kremlin. “I am against negotiations.”